SAISD Installs One Biodefense System to Combat Covid-19 Spread

SAN ANGELO –  In an effort to curb the number of new COVID-19 Covid infections in students, San Angelo ISD implemented an Integrated Viral Protection (IVP) system to destroy airborne pathogens.

According to the district, the IVP unit is "an innovative indoor biodefense system scientifically proven to destroy the virus that causes COVID-19 (99.999 percent)."

"SAISD remains evidence-informed in our approach to monitoring and mitigating the spread of COVID-19. The IVP unit is a proactive step and one more mitigation measure by the District to support the overall health and wellness of our students and the San Angelo community," said the district in a statement. "We appreciate our students, staff, families, and community partnering to help curtail the spread of COVID-19, and SAISD will continue to work to do our part to benefit the children under our care."

The first IVP unit was installed last week at Glenn Middle School -- making SAISD the first school district in West Texas to install the system as part of their COVID-19 mitigation efforts.

The technology was installed by leading health-related organizations in Texas including Texas Medical Center’s Methodist Hospital, Steward Healthcare, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, St. Joseph’s Medical Center, the Texas A&M Health Science Center, and Post Acute Medical Specialty Hospitals in San Antonio and Victoria, Texas.

"The District worked diligently to source and expedite delivery and installation of the unit in the midst of a supply chain shortage, and has plans to carry out a targeted, phased approach for more installations with consideration of factors like high COVID-10 positivity rates and feasibility of distancing measures," said the district in a statement.